Thebmostatic switch



Feb. 23, 193:2. v BESIAAVMLABEAQOPX Re. 18,361 1 THERMOSTATI C SWITCH Original Filed Nov. 27, 1925 II|IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII||| "my llllillllllulllllnl El" mi Louisa'. n, rnnnAN. orion-rcaoc,runners,fassrefNoa, mf jMasini ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro

v @EST AVAILABLE Cola4 PATENT]OFFICE '.mnmnaufonrs41to1'mY-wam..A ancona-ron comm, 'or nmNnaroLIs, unum- 'rnnaxosrarrc swrron v .Original No. 1,764,845, dated June 17, '1930,"Seal Bo.71,857,"n1ed November '27, 1985. Application lfor .reissue -1ed-'Januaryfl11,.1932. Serial No. 588,021. y

l My ,inventionrelates to ayswitchingmeans,

` and 1t has particular relation .tothermostatif .cally controlled switching-.means wherein-a luralit ofv adjustabley controls l are provide and w erein, moreoventhe connections between the actuating means and the switching .means are such as to impose f no strain u l vention has vlbeen more fullyfdescribed, there frequentl .arises `circumstances wherein it vis desire to. actuate tiltable switches 'from z. athermo'statically operated actuator.

f great, diiiiculty `in vcombinn .these features.,

"In the past, sofar as ,Iam aware, one

, has :been the lack ofmeans for'allowing the actuating member to override, or continue -to move in the samedirection ias, the yswitching means, after the `latter have' reached apredetermined -limit.4 One. articuler application of my invention isinconnection with' vtiltable switches, and for lpurposes of illustration, hereinafter described as tltable mer- 4 cury contactor switches.

" slight limits of switch movements had been Switches of the last named type `are-becoming more and more used '.Wherea. minimum of energy 1s available. for actuatlng purposes. These switches may be used in such connection because avery slighttilt-or Vover the-center movement is necessary to effect a change of circuit connection.

By this same token, however, ,1n the use of suchlswitches, as heretofore presented, there has existed marked dilliculty, since 1t hasbeen impossible to insure the cessation of the'actuating force at the same time that the very reached,

` 'As will be 'apparent from the` invention hereinafter described,"I provide for such apparently irreconcilable functions by 'frictionally, or otherwise similarly, connecting the tiltable switch proper and the actuating means, .thereb allowing the switch to be tilted in one irection, whereafter ythe actu- One object of. m invention 1s 4to provide .switching meansv o thecharacter designated -scribed switch, is the ating means may continue to operato-without furthermovmg said switch.

that, when a reversal of function, for instance. when) a thermostat element chan itsdirection of .movement, the switch shall immediatel be actuated. This operation is alsoprovi ed -for in my im roved switch, whichishereinafter describe Another yfeature of the hereinafter deprovision of two dis'- tmct means for-adj usting the movement vof said switch in -response to changes initiatedy by a thermostatically controlled actuator or some similar actuating means.

I provide one set of adjustable'controlling "means whereby the timeof circuit change effected by my switch is redetermined, that is, the periodlb'etween vt e occurrence of a. certain. event and the time when the switch predeterm1ned. Again, an adjustment is after the occurrence of a predeterminedv event, may beaccuratelyprovided for. With "these-.two adj-ustments, my improved switcht0n the other hand, it is of course necessary I shall change the circuit connections is easily provided whereby lthe celeity of response,

ing mechanism finds beneficial and increasingly numerous applications in automatic oil heating systems, and other fields where it is necessary to insure amarked positiveness ofv operation with a minimum of energy con'- sumption,

In furtherance .of this latter object, and particularly in the fields :which I have mentioned. my invention *further consists in the provision of a novel heating element for use in connection vwith a bimetallic actuator, this element comprising a heating coil which is secured lwithin a glass tube, vwhich tube is connected to the element in question. The employment of such a. combination admits of the use o'f a very fine heating element, and

one which is operablewith a minimum of;

energy and marked positiveness oflfoontrol, l

Whilefl have illustrated this lnovel heat' ying coil in connectionwith the hereinafter described switch, it may of course find ready `use in'other connections.

A better understanding of my invention Fig. 1. Y l

Referring-now more particularly to the BEST AVMLABLE cor` maybe had from the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front, elevatlonal view of a switch embodying my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partially" in section of one portion of the switch of drawings, the thermostatically yoperated switch embodying my invention comprises a casing having a back wall 1l, to which wall' is fixed a. plate 12, the latter beingdisposedl (as best shown in Fig. 2) enough in front of said wall 11 to leave' sufficient' space for the disposition of certain elements of the swltch.4

A plurality of binding posts 13 is positioned on said plate 12 and Vto'these latter maybeA connected the lead lwires used in connection.

with the aforesaid switch, it being noted that lead wires 14--14 are connected to electrodes 15-15 of a mercury tube contactor switch 16. The latter switch is mounted in a clip 17.

Other lead Wires 18-18 pare connected to the upper binding postson the plate and supply current to a. heating element l19.A The heating element 19 comprises an elongated tube having a re-entrant portion 20,. about which a heating coil 21 is wound', tliislatter being connected to the wire 18-18, whence energy is derived for the operation of said coil.

posed inte'riorly thereof and wound about the re-entrant portion, being-sealed thereln, whereby the coil is disposed onan integrally formed portion of the tube, eventuating a heating element of verycompa'ct'and' very 'desirable' form. i l

In forming'this element, the :re-'entrant portion first has the coil Wound thereabou't, the lead-in Wires beings'ealed through this portion and lead out through rthe open end of the same. Then the outside portion 2Oa` of tube is placed in enveloping relation to j the reentrant part, said outside part having a li 20", which is then in "close Contact with' the, ip at `the open'end of the reentrant por!A tion. The two portions of theA tube are thenI sealed Where they meet Wherefrom the heating coil is contained within said tube and is wound on the reentrant portion, as shown.A

A strip of mica may be positioned along the top of the re-entrant portion 20 and under the coil 21, thereby providing means forI keeping the turns of the. coil 21 apart and insulating them one from the other, said mical at the same time acting in a desirable manner when the turns of the coil 21 become hot and tend to expand.

The aforesaid heating element 19- is' secured to a bimetallie member 23bystrips 24.

The bimctallic element 23 is fixed at one end 25 to a lug 26, the latter being a portion of one of the walls 10 of the switch casing. i It is apparent, therefore, that when said eoil is Beyond the 'righthand 'fof' the member 28, the latteris provided with It will be notedfrom the construction.'A of the tube 19, that the heating coil 21 is dis- 'rounds the'shaft 34 and 'is confined b supplied with current the heat generated rises and serves to bend the strip 23, wherefrom an actuating force for the switch is derived. v

- "Fixed on the back wall 1 1- of the switch casing-is a vmember 27,y in which is rotarily mounted a hub 28, from which hub projects a threaded crank pin A connecting rod 30. comprising two arms is secured tothe outer lend' of the bimetallic element 23 by means of a hookv 31,v 'the' other ends of the arms of saidfrod being secured in a collar 32, which latter is movable along the threads of the lcrank 29.

WVhen it' is desired to change the angular relation between the rod 30 and the crank 29 it is only'necessary to lift the upper end of the rod rom'under the hook 31 and rotate the collar 32 thereby moving the latter and the lower end of rod30 along the crank 29.

This latter adjustment is one of those above referred to, by means of which I am able to vregulate the operation of myswitch within very close limits for desirab purposes.

journalled support i a collar 33, beyondwhich point thel aforesaid member is lreduced toform-a threaded spindle lportion 34. A collar-like member is loosely secured on the shaft-like portionv34 means of a' nut 36, this portion 35 functiong mg as a support for' the contactor tube clip 17.

The lefthand-end ofthe member 35 is formed Witha socket '37. A spiral spring 38 sur- I the collar' '33 and another collar 39', the' atter vbeingV free to slide alongl the shaft 34 under y the pressure 'of' said spring '38 and' push said member 35 against nut 36,' whereby said "member 35 jis-gripped between collar 39 and Itwil'l be noticed that ythe member 35 protrudes through a circularopening 40 in the plate-12. Positioned about the upper periphery -of the aforesaid opening 40 are'a plurality of holes 41 in which may be posif t'ioned, in any' desiied relation, stop or limiting members 42. A pin 43 is rigidly se/ cured to the contactor tube supporting mem ber 35v and the positioning of the stop members 42 in the path of travel of said pin 43 eventuatesl a' desirable control of the distance through which said tube may tilt when when said yshaft 34 is actuated by'the bimetallic element 23.

As I have hereinbefore indicated, one of theadvantages of -my present invention re- Y sides in the rict-ional connection between the actuating meansA and the switch member whereby the actuating means may continue to move in either direction after the switch has reached its extreme limit of movement in a like direction, without undue-strains being imposed on the mechanism. This is accomplished through the combinationl just del BEST Ai/Aaaets copi scribed whereby therotary movement. of the.

member 28 is imparted to the member by reason ofthe spring pressing thelcollar 39 against tliefend, of the socketed'portion of said member `Then the pin 43 contacts With'one ot'the stop ,members -i2,ftlie movenient of the memberf i5` is arrested. Howmay be 3e. i thought that, the same ma y. be readily underever, the' actuating niember28 may continueto move, as it very frequently Will, undertlie influence ot the continued flexing of the laiv metallic element, sincetlieloose collar 39 will `slide over the end of the socket 37 and perinit-,the overriding movement of the actuator HoWevei--, immediately upon a reversed tieX- i'iig' ofthe member 23,.,the tube supporting member 35 will -be "picked up. andV moved in a reversed direction, it not being'necessary to wait tlie return of the. actuator to the point at which .the movement vof thetube was arrested. `This combination. isofjniarked advantage in connection With manyfdevices vwhich maybe controlled by sv'vitcliing mechanisin.

Thisteature of my invention is-particularly advantageous in connection'with oil burning systems, in whiclilatter thesivitch l used. in connection witlifapilot circuit in said system,

Itlisnot believed necessaryto elaborate upon tlieojpera'tion .of my-lnvention since it is stood l from the above description. Briefly, however, the lieatingfot the bimfetallic strip 23 by the passage of current through the coil 22, results in a lexingofsaidfstrip wherecrank 29 the angularitybetween the rod andv v the crank maybel vz iried`,.sov th at a definite displacement of -the.e'ittremity member 23 vmay,be. caused to exercise' a more or less vehai'ige of the cranlnitbeing.iiotedthat as'tlie Acollar 3 2,- is :moved to the Vright along said crank, the z uifzlev therebetween is made more obtuse, Wheret'romthe same. thrust will eventu'atea decreased movement of saidcontactor l Againthe Vpins/12 may placed: closer toi getlier'or farther apart, which will vary the` distance which the tube must travel from exs tremeposition until it movesover center and tliev'mercury Vglobule thereinchangesthe cir-v tube is frictionally mountedl on the shaft towhicli the crank is lixcd--and is constrained to move in eitherdirection as far as is pei;-

rection without h arn-itul results.

The purpose of this connection is to insure or flexing of the bimctallic strip, an immediate change in direction of movement of the contactor tube Will take place.

` The purpose of the above controls and adjustment is to provide an accurate means of predeterminiiig the time ot occurrence of certain electrical events in perfect sequence, thesev events being controlled by the movement of the mercury in the contactor tube.

As before indicated, the further the tube departs from the position at which the mercuijy travels over-center, the further it must travel to return to this position upon a reversal ot' the actuating force derived from adjustment heretofore described may be utivvlized to cause a given change in temperature `of said bimetall'ic strip to eventuate a more l or less angle of tilt.

lVIy invention, therefore, provides two distinct methods of adjusting the -time between saidniechanical events which are controlled through the switch mechanism above de scribed, and provides 'a controlling device which is of considerable service in many lields.

lVhile I have described but one embodiment ot' my invention, it is obvious that many modiiications may be made therein by those skilled in the art. without departing` from the spirit of my invention and I desire,itheretorc, that the same be limited only by the scope of .the appended claims or by the prior art. upon a thrust is imparted to ,the connecting I claim: 1. In a device of the class described, a switch comprising a tiltable mercury tube contactor, means for limiting the extreme points Aot 'movement of said contacter, therniostatic actuating means for said switch, and t'i'ict'ional means connecting said actuating means and said switch comprisinga socketed rotarily mounted member upon which said contacto? is mounted, and another rotar-ily lriiounted member positioned on an axis coextensive with said first member and having a frictional connection therewith Within thc said socket portion.

2. In a device of the class described', a ro tarily mounted switch, actuating means therefor, means for adjustably predeterniiiiing the limits of movement of said switch, a rotary member rotated by said actuating means, and a collar frictionallyconnected to said rotary member to which said switch is attached whereby said rotary member may move while said collar remains stationary.

In a device ot the class described,l a rom tarily movable switch member, actuating' means tor said switch member comprisiirl` a mounting member. a collar on said mountin fY member eii'ibodying a soclieted portion enveloping a, portion of said mounting member, sai-d switch member being mounted on ICO said collar, and spring means electi aflic-V tional engagement betweensaid l`col ar .and said mounting member.

4. A rotarily movable switch 'memberfa collar supporting said switch membersaid collar bemg provided with a centralaxially extendingerecessed portion, a switch.actuat. ing mem r comprising a ,shaft upon .which said collar may be mounted, an .abutment movable valong said shaft, and springmeans seated within said recessed porticato-move said abutment against said collar,th,e other end of said spring being securedl tov saidshaft topromote the v-frictional engagement vbe- VAmembe Y crank member.

' able switch, a crank member,a frietionalcon-V nection between said crank member and tween the switch member and 'theactuatng 5. In y,a 'device of the class describeda rotatably mounted tiltable switch, a gradually movable therrvnal responsivev actuator therefor, a connection therebetween, and means ifor varying the angularityof the connection.

6.` Inra device of the class described,a-ro tatably mountedftiltable switch, aggradually movable thermal responsive actuator therefor, a crank memberv attached to the switch, and a connectorbetween said actuator and the crank member for varying the angularity between said crank member and said fconnector. i

'7. YIn ajdevice of the class described, a rotatably mounted tiltablejswitch, an actuator therefor, a crank member attached -to the switch, and a connector between said actuator and the crank member havin a threadedconnection with said crank or varying the angularity'between said crank andsaidconnector.

8. In a devicel of the'class described,f.a tltf able switch, a crank member, a frictional connection between said vcrank member andy switch, an actuator, a .rod connecting said crank and said actuator, and meansfor yvarying the angular relation between saidxrod yand said crank member. y

9; In a device ofthe class described, atilty able switch, a crank member, a frictionalconnection b'etween "said ',crank.- member and switch, an actuator, a rod connecting -said crank and said actuator, and means fproviding 'for adjustment between4 said-rodand said 10. In a device of the class described,^a.tilt

switch, an actautorJ a-rod connectingsaid crank member and said actuator, and means providing for adjustment between said -frod and said crank member comprisingathreaded o vconnection between said rod and crankmember ' 1.1. In a device of the classdescribed, 'a-;.tilt

able switch, a-vsupporttherefor, acera threaded frelatiom n In adeviceofithecl'assf described, a tiltab1efs'w1tch, a support therefor, a vcrank-.fric- 113.' 19e'deviaoffzhefnssdescribd,ma; able sw1tch,ansupport"therefor,acrank fric- .tionallyfeonnectedto said suipport, a bimetallic., member :fixed at` vone en heating ...means thereforaafrod connectedito the other end of Asaid. member, antlsmeansfconnecting said ro'd :to said in vthreadedyrelation.

.14. a'deviceoithe class described,-a=tiltV able switchfasupportftherefor, a crank fric- :.tiona1ly-connected`to-saidsupport, a bimetalvlic memberagtx'edatene-end, heati'n means. :therefor.comprising:a sealed .tube astened 'tosaid-member and ihavingfraheat' `coil therein,;andameans for connecting said imetallic membervtosaidrcrank inthreaded.rela-y tion.

:15. 'tIn a ,devicev oftheclass: described a'tiltn nk-frictxonally connected. to support, an ladj ustable means fforlmti-ngthemovement yo fsaid switch comprising-.an-arm'on said'support and @ad1ustable stops vpesitionable Vin the I th, Tof' said.armfan-actuatoniafrod.movable yvsaid Y said crankinthreaded-relation.

actuator, :andmeans :connecting :said to' switch .isffmountedfadius'table means for -predetennining :the flimits btween lwhich .said f switchmay "be Etilted, :a frota-ry' member frie-v .tionally connectedto saidasnpportw'threaded crank connected lto.sa'itl-17nexriber, 1a jthermostatically movable actuator comprising" a vbimetallic elementiixedfatfone-end Aa rod. carriedzbyfthe.otherzendthereof, andan adjust- -4 able connection "between -rsaid .rod land said crankfcompri'siny -means-or-.moving saidjrod tionallyconnected to said suplport, aithreadedv crank l connected to :said member, .a thermostatically :movable actuatorcomprisingv a vbimetallic element iat v 4one end, :a Iheating coil depending therefrom, la .rod carried vby the `other end thereof, and an; ad ustable connectionbetweenasaidfrodfandsai crank comoving-saidrod along said threaded-crank.

18. jln a deviceofsthefclassf described, a .tiltable switch, la v pivoted support in which. said switch .is mounted, adjustable means for pre- `determining .the limits :between -which said` destined, afna- Illu .18861' eEsTAvAiLAeLE com switch may be tilted, a rotary member frictionally connected to said support, a threaded crank connected'to said rotary member, a thermostatically movable actuator comprising a bimetallic element fixed at one end, a heating coil depending from said bimetallic element, a rod carried by the other end of said bimetallic element, and an adjustable connection between said rod and said crank comprising means for moving said rod along said threaded crank, heating means for said bimetallic element depending therefrom and comprising a sealed tube having an elongated reentrant portion with a current-carrying coil wrapped around the interior of said reentrant portion.

19. A thermostatic element comprising a bimetallic member' fixed at one end and having heating means therefor depending therefrom and comprising a. sealed ltube having an elongated reentrant portion with a current-carrying coil wrapped around the interior of said reentrant portion.

20. In a device of the class described, a tiltable switch, actuating means therefor, means for adjustably predetermining the limits of movement of said switch, an arm actuated by said actuating means for carrying said tiltable switch extending to `en gage said limiting means, and an adjustable spring member for frictionally engaging said actuating means and said arm.

21. In adevice of the character described, a casing, a tiltablel switch disposed in said casing, said casing having a plurality of spaced apertures on a wall thereof, a pair of pins for engaging. any two of said apertures, actuatin means for said switch, carrying means rictionally held on said actuating means operating between and limited by said pins whereby said actuating means may have an overriding movement at the limit of'movement of said vswitching means but insuring an immediate reverse movement of` said switching means upon a reverse movement of said actuating means.

22. An electric switch comprising an actuator adapted to move through a relatively wide range, a mercury electric contactor, a holder therefor, said holder adapted to move through a relatively narrow range, means for adjusting the span of the range through which said holder moves, and yielding continuously acting frictional slip connecting means between said holder and said actuator whereby relative movement therebetween obtains when said holder reaches either end of its narrower range of movement.

23. An electric switch comprisingwan actuator adapted to move through a relatively wide range, a mercury electric contactor, a holder therefor, said holder adapted to move through a relatively narrow range, means for adjusting the span of the range through which said holder moves, yielding continu- .therebetween obtains after said ously acting frictional slip connecting means between said holder and said actuator whereby relative movement therebetween obtains when said holder reaches either end of its narrower range of movement, and means for adjusting said yielding continuously acting frictional slip connecting means.

24. An electric switch comprising an actua'tor adapted to move through a relatively wide range of movement, an electric switch controlledv by said actuator, said electric switch being adapted to move through a relatively narrow range for the purpose of opening and closing an associated electric circuit, means for adjusting the span of the range through which said electric switch may move, frictional slip connecting means between said electric switch and said actuator whereby relative movement therebetween obtains when said electric switch reaches either end of its narrower range of movement, and means for adjusting said frictional slip connecting means.

2,5. An electric switch comprising an actu` ator adapted to move through a relatively -wide range, an electric switch controlled thereby which is adapted to move within a range limited in at least one direction, means for adjusting the range through which said electric switch may move, frictional slip connecting means between said actuator and said electric switch whereby relative movement electric switch has moved in at least one direction to the limit of its range, and means for adjusting said frictional slip connecting means.

26. An electric switch comprising a thermal element having one end fixed-and the other end movable, a rotatably mounted holder adapted to be moved by said movable end lof the thermal element, a mercury electric contactor mounted on said holder, adjustable means for limiting the degree of movement of said holder within the span of movement of said movable end of said thermal element7 and slip connecting means `interposed between said holder and said movable end of the thermal element, said connecting means comprising an adjustable spring ele- 1 27. An elastic switching mechanism comprising an actuator adapted to move through a relatively wide range, an electric switch adapted to move .through a relatively narrower range, means for adjusting the span of the range of movement of said electric switch, and yielding continuously acting frictional slip connecting means between said electric switch and said actuator whereby relative movement therebetween obtains when the former reaches either end of its narrower range of movement.

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name this 7th day of January, 1982.

LOUIS A. M. PHELAN. 

